Bone Density Screening
Important Information on Bone Density Screening
Osteoporosis should be a concern for every woman; each of whom should have a bone density screening to provide a picture of their bone health to help them prevent bone loss.
The disease called osteoporosis is a weakening of the bones caused by low bone density. Bone health begins in their formative stages, when we are children and adolescents. The quality of our diet as well as the benefits of regular exercise develops dense bones, which are strong to provide a good support system for our entire frame. These dense bones carry us into adulthood, protecting us as a slow aging process eventually slows the bone building process as the natural breaking down process takes over. If an individual’s bones have not achieved a good density through adolescence, their body will not easily withstand the breaking down process. Even in cases of women who emerge from youth with strong, healthy bones may still be at risk of osteoporosis as hormones change through the menopause stage of life. The only method to determine the status of our skeleton is to undergo a bone density screening.
The procedure for a bone density screening is accomplished in a few different ways. Most common are either SXA or DEXA; single energy x-ray densiometry and dual energy x-ray densiometry. The tests compare bone density to its ability to bear weight; predicting risk only of the possibility of those bones of sustaining a fracture. These types of tests measure just the density of bone.
A group called the World Health Organization has established definitions for the conditions of osteoporosis and osteopenia, which indicates a higher fracture risk but not yet at the level of osteoporosis. These definitions are applied to density comparisons between a specific patient’s bone density screening results and those of a 30 year old woman in good health. Using what is referred to as a T-scale, they have estimated that about 40% of postmenopausal white women possess low bone density, while another 7% have osteoporosis.
Base age recommendations for having a bone density screening begins at age 65 for most women. Prior to this age, there are many ways a woman can work to increase her bone density. Weight bearing exercises and a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D as well as cessation of smoking and excessive drinking can go a long way in preventative measures for osteopenia and osteoporosis.
Our bones are designed to take us all of the way through life if proper care is given to their health. Every woman should discuss with her medical professional about having a bone density screening to confirm her risk for the diseases, and also about beginning a routine that leads to bone health.